rasp 1 of 2

as in scratch
a harsh grating sound the rusted lock opened with a rasp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

rasp

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to scratch
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the sound of fingernails rasping on the blackboard makes me cringe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rasp
Noun
The soulful rasp of his voice bellowed through the open-roof into the Nashville night. Bryan West, The Tennessean, 30 May 2025 Using a rasp grater such as a Microplane, finely zest the lemon into the bowl and gently toss the ingredients to combine. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025
Verb
The Argentina legend stepped up and rasped the ball into the top corner. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 While Mullan’s natural voice shares Shankly’s rasping quality, their inflexions are different. Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
Noun
  • Avoid stacking pans without protection to prevent scratches and chips.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
  • People are now created from scratch.
    Rohan Pinto, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Dip a paper towel or cloth in the jelly, then rub a thin layer all over the surface.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
  • And while it was expected the two sides would part ways this offseason, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn rubbed Rodgers the wrong way after an awkward meeting between the two to discuss their future together.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Beat in vanilla and 1 of the eggs until smooth, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Although some of this base layer was likely ejected as well, Desch and his colleague Alan Jackson, also of Arizona State University, used simulations to determine that most of the material scraped from the baby Plutos was nitrogen.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Comments about my fast walk annoy me.
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Keanu, still annoyed from the veto ceremony, talked to Ava Pearl in the HOH room and called Rachel a liar.
    David Wysong, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Officials said that none of the passengers on the boat were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident, and alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Rare was the big public event in which none of the bold names were telling red-carpet interlocutors that were wearing Armani.
    Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Inside the Sámi church, centuries-old wood creaks under candlelight—while at Nutti Sámi Siida (a reindeer lodge offering traditional Sámi experiences), visitors sip warm lingonberry juice and listen to joik songs.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • As the jurors exited the courtroom, the only sound was the creak of the swinging gate.
    Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The update comes more than two months after Phypers filed for divorce from the actress on July 7.
    Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
  • For applicants, this begins with ensuring current compliance by filing all required returns, paying any outstanding liabilities, and meeting foreign asset and accounts information reporting obligations.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fort Worth bed bugs The B-plot of Episode 7 has Peggy setting up a Little Free Library in her front yard in an effort to build community.
    Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
  • His not winning it was considered a failure, and that bugged him.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rasp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!